Patents Examined by Alexis Boateng
  • Patent number: 9205754
    Abstract: A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically assessing electricity provider detail information associated with providing electrical energy to one or more electric vehicle wireless electrical energy chargers configured for wirelessly charging one or more electric vehicles with electrical energy from the one or more electric vehicle wireless electrical energy chargers to the one or more electric vehicles, the one or more electric vehicles including one or more electric motors to provide motive force for directionally propelling the one or more electric vehicles. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9209324
    Abstract: Apparatus comprise a photovoltaic cell arrangement having a front surface and a rear surface, and first and second conductor patterns formed on different ones of the front and rear surfaces. The first conductor pattern comprises at least one loop, and the apparatus comprises at least a first terminal connected to the second conductor pattern, and second and third terminals connected to different ends of the at least one loop of the first conductor pattern. A transducer arrangement comprises a transducer body having a front surface and a rear surface, and first and second conductor patterns formed on different ones of the front and rear surfaces. The first conductor pattern comprises at least one loop. The transducer arrangement comprises at least a first terminal connected to the second conductor pattern, and second and third terminals connected to different ends of the at least one spiral loop of the first conductor pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Rouvala Markku
  • Patent number: 9199548
    Abstract: A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically assessing electricity provider detail information associated with providing electrical energy to one or more electric vehicle wireless electrical energy chargers configured for wirelessly charging one or more electric vehicles with electrical energy from the one or more electric vehicle wireless electrical energy chargers to the one or more electric vehicles, the one or more electric vehicles including one or more electric motors to provide motive force for directionally propelling the one or more electric vehicles. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9199549
    Abstract: A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically receiving electric vehicle prospective use information associated with aspects indicating one or more future travel plans involving prospective use of an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including one or more wireless electrical energy transfer receiving devices and one or more electrical energy storage devices; and electronically obtaining electrical energy transfer aspect information regarding wireless electrical energy transfer from one or more wireless electrical energy transfer imparting stations to the one or more wireless electrical energy transfer receiving devices of the electric vehicle for storage by the one or more electrical energy storage devices of the electric vehicle. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9201408
    Abstract: A total amount of current drawn through a first charging equipment and a second charging equipment that wired on a same electrical circuit is limited to not exceed a maximum amount of electric current supported by the electrical circuit to prevent the electrical circuit from being overloaded, where limiting includes communicating a first current limit to a first electric vehicle connected to the first charging equipment to cause the first electric vehicle to limit its current draw to not exceed the first current limit, and communicating a second current limit to a second electric vehicle connected to the second charging equipment to cause the second electric vehicle to limit its current draw to not exceed the second current limit, where a sum of current being drawn at the first current limit and the second current limit does not exceed the maximum amount of electric current supported by the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ChargePoint, Inc.
    Inventors: David Baxter, Carl F. Hagenmaier, Jr., Milton T. Tormey, Richard Lowenthal
  • Patent number: 9201407
    Abstract: A message is received that indicates a request for an allocation of electric current at a first electric vehicle charging station that is connected to a same main electrical circuit breaker as a second electric vehicle charging station that is presently allocated electric current. Responsive to determining that granting the request would exceed a maximum amount of electric current supported by the main electrical circuit breaker, the electric current allocation of at least the second electric vehicle charging station is adjusted such that the request for allocation can be granted and the request is granted and electric current is allocated to the first electric vehicle charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ChargePoint, Inc.
    Inventors: David Baxter, Carl F. Hagenmaier, Jr., Milton T Tormey, Richard Lowenthal
  • Patent number: 9197100
    Abstract: A PLC processing device includes: a filter; a first signal line; a second signal line; and a PLC-ECU. The filter removes noise from a signal transmitted using a power line. The filter is provided on the first signal line. In contrast, the second signal line bypasses the filter. The PLC-ECU communicates using a signal which has passed through the filter while the power storage device is being charged. The PLC-ECU communicates using a signal which has bypassed filter while the charging of the power storage device is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9197096
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a solid-state battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a temperature of the solid-state battery during use of the solid-state battery with the portable electronic device. Next, the system modifies a charging technique for the solid-state battery based on the monitored temperature to increase a capacity or a cycle life of the solid-state battery. To modify the charging technique based on the monitored temperature, the system may increase a charge rate of the solid-state battery if the temperature exceeds a first temperature threshold. On the other hand, the system may maintain the charge rate of the solid-state battery if the temperature does not exceed the first temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 9187290
    Abstract: A cordset assembly having a charge controller interruption device and a cord reel. The charge control interruption device may have a housing and at least one cord. The cord reel may have first and second reel portions. The cord may be wound around the housing between the first and second reel portions to facilitate storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Poulin
  • Patent number: 9184475
    Abstract: A method is provided for the open-loop or closed-loop control of at least one operating parameter of an electric energy accumulator influencing the aging state of the electric energy accumulator. The method determines the actual aging state of the electric energy accumulator, compares the actual aging state with a target aging state predefined for the momentary age of the energy accumulator, and restricts an operating parameter range permitted for the at least one operating parameter if the actual aging state is worse than the target aging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Mumelter, Felix Jonasch, Harald Hofmeier, Michael Boeckl, Simon Rogge
  • Patent number: 9170621
    Abstract: A power supply device is provided. The power supply device provides a maintenance voltage at an output terminal to a system chip of a system and includes a first battery, a capacitor, a charging circuit, and a monitoring circuit. The first battery provides a battery voltage. The capacitor stores a capacitor voltage. The charging circuit is coupled to the capacitor. The monitoring circuit detects whether the battery voltage is less than a first threshold and whether the capacitor voltage is larger than a second threshold and generates a control signal according to the determination result. When the monitoring circuit detects that the battery voltage is less than the first threshold and the capacitor voltage is not larger than the second threshold, the monitoring circuit asserts the control signal to control the charging circuit to charge the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventor: Po-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9172265
    Abstract: A battery charger includes a battery cell, a reference voltage generating section, an A/D converting section including an A/D converter and a control section. The reference voltage generating section includes a first reference voltage circuit generating a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage circuit generating a second reference voltage equal to the first reference voltage. To diagnose the A/D converter, the first reference voltage circuit is used. To diagnose the first reference voltage circuit, a second A/D conversion value obtained by A/D converting a second divided voltage of the second reference voltage via the A/D converter using the first reference voltage is compared with a first reference value obtained by A/D converting a first divided voltage of the first reference voltage via the A/D converter using the first reference voltage when the first reference voltage circuit is normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kita
  • Patent number: 9168822
    Abstract: A charging system includes a locking device locking a connector provided at the end of a cable in the state where the connector is connected to an inlet provided in a vehicle; a release button for releasing locking by the locking device; a switch generating a signal indicating that the connector and the inlet are connected; a horn; and an ECU. In response to the operation of the release button, the switch stops generation of the signal. The ECU controls charging of a power storage device and detects whether the signal is issued or not. In the case where the ECU detects that generation of the signal is stopped during charging of the power storage device, the ECU causes the horn to issue an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Ichikawa, Kenji Itagaki, Masaru Sasaki, Wanleng Ang, Kenji Murasato, Atsushi Mizutani, Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taira Kikuchi, Yoshikazu Kataoka, Shingo Ieda, Hiroki Sawada, Yoshinori Fujitake
  • Patent number: 9160409
    Abstract: A charging system supplies charging power from a charging station to an in-vehicle system through a power line. The charging station and the in-vehicle system further include communication devices, which communicate through the power line. The in-vehicle system includes a detecting circuit for detecting impedance of the power line. The in-vehicle system includes a control circuit, which controls switching-over of the communication device between a waiting state and an operating state based on the impedance detected by the detecting circuit. For example, the control circuit detects connection of the cable based on the impedance change of the power line. The control circuit switches the communication device from the waiting state to the operating state in response to the connection of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Kanayama
  • Patent number: 9160181
    Abstract: An energy supply system including an electrical energy storage system having multiple storage modules, in particular a battery system, an ascertaining device for ascertaining state variables of the storage modules and an energy transmission device for energy transmission between the storage modules and a downstream electrical device. It is provided that the energy transmission device has multiple d.c. chopper converters, which are connected to one another in parallel and/or in series at the output end, and each of the d.c. chopper converters is connectable to a storage module of the energy storage system, and the energy supply system has a trigger device for triggering the d.c. chopper converters as a function of the ascertained state variable of the respective connected storage module. Also described is a method for operating an energy supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Butzmann, Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 9153967
    Abstract: A battery system and an energy storage system including a battery module. The battery system includes at least one battery module that may perform charging and discharging, and a battery management unit that controls the charging and the discharging of the battery module. The battery management unit varies a charge limit value for stopping the charging of the battery module and a discharge limit value for stopping the discharging of the battery module. Accordingly, a lifetime of the battery module is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Soon Kim, Jin-Hong An
  • Patent number: 9146283
    Abstract: A battery tester determines a remaining level of charge of a battery mounted within a separate electronic device having an audio jack. The battery tester includes a plug and a circuit having a high impedance input amplifier. At least one electrical contact of the plug is electrically coupled to an input of the high impedance input amplifier. The plug is removably insertable within the audio jack such that the battery of the separate electronic device is electrically connected to the input of the high impedance input amplifier. When electrically coupled to the battery, an output of the high impedance input amplifier provides a signal proportional to the remaining level of charge of the battery, whereby the remaining level of charge of the battery is obtainable by the battery tester without having to remove the battery from the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: NuWave Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Damian Coccio
  • Patent number: 9147914
    Abstract: A measuring device is used in conjunction with a programmable controller for monitoring electrolyte levels in the battery. According to one implementation, the measuring device is located in a battery and is configured to detect when the electrolyte level in the battery falls below a particular level. The controller is in electrical communication with the electrolyte detection device. The controller is configured to: (i) receive a signal from the electrolyte level detection device indicating when the electrolyte level in the battery has fallen below the particular level; (ii) introduce a wait-period after the signal is received; and (iii) enable an indicator to indicate that the electrolyte level in the battery should be refilled when the wait-period expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Philadelphia Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Duncan Jones, John Worthington
  • Patent number: 9142992
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery with an internal microcontroller, a memory and a temperature sensor. The microcontroller draws a current from the cells internal to the battery used to power device to which the battery is attached. Normally, the microcontroller, is in a first operating mode in which the microcontroller draws a relatively low current. During these periods the temperature sensor generates a signal representative of the temperature of the battery. When the signal from the temperature sensor indicates the battery temperature exceeds a threshold temperature, the microcontroller enters a second operating mode in which the microcontroller draws a relatively high current. While in the second operating mode the microcontroller records in the memory data regarding the fact that the battery temperature exceeded the reference temperature and the amount of time the battery was at a temperature above the reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Malackowski, Brey Daniel Hansford
  • Patent number: 9126494
    Abstract: The charging of an electric vehicle connected to a charging station is initiated. When a state of charge of the vehicle reaches a minimum state of charge, the charging is halted. The minimum state of charge is less than the full charge capacity of the vehicle. A time for reinitiating the charging is determined. The charging of the vehicle is reinitiated at the determined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Masahiko Uyeki